JCPOA European Parties Seek Exemption from US Sanctions on Iran

TEHRAN (Tasnim) - France, Germany and Britain are asking the United States to exempt European companies from sanctions on Iran.

The three nations' foreign and finance ministers have sent a letter to US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, AP reported.

The European ministers say they "strongly regret" the Trump administration's decision to withdraw from the international nuclear agreement with Iran, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

They asked the US administration to "grant exemptions from US sanctions for EU companies" that have been doing business with Iran since the deal came into force in 2016.

The European ministers have also noted that Iran should not be cut out of the SWIFT system for international money transfers.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, one of the signatories, tweeted Wednesday that EU “businesses must be able to pursue their activities.”

On May 8, US President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the JCPOA, which was achieved in Vienna in 2015 after years of negotiations among Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), and announced plans for new sanctions against Tehran.

Following the US exit, Iran and the remaining parties launched talks to save the accord.